I have very mixed feelings about this. First of all, while it is obvious that we all have to work together to make this world work, I think we need to do so without sounding like either a stern self-appointed parent OR Sally Field's famous foray into public embarrassment. I don't recall the rest of the world asking us to make all the decisions and I really don't think the gushy You Like Me!!! attitude is going to garner a lot of respect either. There is a difference between owing something and giving it freely and between caring and kissing up. The world may seem to be in love with us now. But the world, like your junior high school crush, is a fickle little twit hormonally emotional with very little concern for logic or reason. Today the star; tomorrow someone sneezes the wrong way and it's back to the cornfield. My hope is that we will be able to recognize and do what is best in any given situation - even if it happens to be in spite of our popularity polls.

I vote yes, people are now saying '' The entire world is going to change ''

People blamed Bush, now he's gone. Wonder what he's doing now? Hope he doesn't try to run in Canada lol

Of course, maybe the victims of the war have different opinions and in that case, they would hate Canadians to.

The depth of the negative feelings against Americans is significant in many countries. It will not changed with the different government, as it is not based on any objective reasons.

I hope that this will happen.  I was in Quebec the other day and dropped into a bar.  I think some of the patrons were giving me the evil eye.

The world is already starting to like us better, if you have your finger on the pulse in Europe. My friends there in the Netherlands and Switzerland tell me that at least 75% of all of Europe favored Obama as the nominee. As long as we don't revert to the Bush neo-con ways (not much chance of that) and tell our friends that if they aren't on our side, they're our enemies, we'll mend those fences. It has not been smart for Bush to try to coerce support from our allies. Obama will be a lot smarter about it, if for no other reason than he sees the effects that neo-con attitude has produced.  Check out the comments made by foreign nations about Obama's election. Most are encouraged that Obama will be more reasonable and talk first before ultimately resorting to the big stick. He's a smarter, less stubborn man than Bush, but, to quote Bill O'Reilly for once, after his interview of Obama, "he's no wimp."

Lets not assume this is a given yet.

Maybe I'm a pessimist, but I don't see this happening without an extreme amount of effort.  Even when Clinton, who was considered highly liked outside the US, was president, there were still countries that didn't like us too much.  That's just to be expected.  We'll have to see if Obama can make a difference on the world stage, and that opportunity will present itself soon enough.

I don't care if the world likes us.  I care if we're safe or not and if the homeland is being defended.  The best guarantee of peace is a strong military and a strong defense.

I'm hopeful that this is the low hanging fruit for the Obama administration.  It's not an exaggeration to say that our reputation around the world has been trashed under Bush.  This matters because it means we bear more costs in terms of lives and dollars than we would if we had an administration capable of drumming up more international support for our foreign policy.  Just by virtue of not being Bush, Obama has a real shot to start to repair our world standing.

Sure, the terrorists are gonna love how weak we become.  Any stories in the pro-Obama press (which is 90% of it) about celebrations among the terrorists?  Didn't happen?  They're not relieved?  Right, have another bon-bon.

I won't hold my breath...

Remains to be seen. I'll review again once I've got evidence either direction.

"The world hates us" is an over played cry from liberals along the lines of Republicans wanting to "make rape legal". I'm sure there are spineless snobs in France that are quite happy and some people in Kenya and Jakarta are cheering. At the end of the day the countries we have to worry about aren't going to give a damn who is the President of the United States.

The damage done over the last 8 years won't be quickly forgotten.  But the election of Obama is a great first step in the right direction.  Americans weren't the only ones with a close eye on the vote counting last night and only three countries (Israel, the Phillipines, and one other--I forget which) were backing McCain.

I've noticed a lot of people on this site--many whose opinions I generally share--discount the importance of having allies around the world.  That kind of outlook astonishes me, given the importance of accurate intelligence in the war on terror, the spread of nuclear weaponry, an increasingly globalized marketplace, etc.

Do you know those "DOWN WITH BUSH" signs that they display in Anti-American protests? Well, Obama's face is on the back of those signs and the next time he displeases Hamas, they'll turn those signs around in a heartbeat...

After using those signs over and over for every President, they're getting pretty thick and heavy...

Sure, as long as we become a lame force and influence, which might actually be the immediate future. America will be humiliated and stepped upon as under Carter.

I do think w/Obama the world will view us a bit more favorably, which will be nice.

After 8 years of Bush.  I am sure the arab world prob already does like us again as of last night lol.

I think there is a perception outside the US that we need to mind our own business. The future will tell...but I think many around the globe believe Obama will move us in that direction.

I doubt if it makes much difference. Those that liked America are likely to continue to do so. Those that didn't are equally likely to continue emnity.